Meet Your

2008 Summer Intensive Faculty

         Nancy Bush    Knitter, Author, Researcher into Estonian Folk Knitting              

Nancy found her passion for traditional hand knitting via a degree in Art History and post graduate studies in color design and weaving in San Francisco and Sweden. She has worked as a free-lance designer and consultant to several yarn companies. She is currently Knitting Contributor to PieceWork Magazine. Her designs and articles have also appeared in Interweave Knits, Knitter's, Vogue Knitting, and Threads.  She has taught workshops for guilds, shops and conferences throughout the United States, Canada, Finland and at the Culture College in Viljandi, Estonia. She has been the Knitting Guide on The Interweave Press Knitter’s Journey to Scandinavia in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004. She owns The Wooly West, a mail order and online yarn business in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a knitter, her focus has been on traditional knitting techniques and uses of ethnic patterns. Her specialty is Estonian traditional knitting. She is the author of Folk Socks (1994), Folk Knitting in Estonia (1999), Knitting on the Road, (2001) and Knitting Vintage Socks (2005), all published by Interweave Press.

 Loyce Ericson         Feltmaker, Felting Instructor and Studio Owner           

After twenty plus years working in high tech as a mechanical designer, Loyce Ericson took a personal and professional turn to follow her passion. She has been making felt since 1999 and began teaching in 2001. She has a private studio and classroom in Forest Grove, OR. 

Loyce says “I have always been a tactile person. I can't truly see a thing unless I can touch it so felt is the perfect medium for me. I get to use a wide variety of textures and colors of fibers in some very exciting ways. Felt should be seen with the fingertips. I want my art to be approachable, touchable and understandable by young and old viewers. I'm most gratified when a viewer, smiles, chuckles or sighs and then reaches out to touch one of my pieces of sculpture or art clothing.”  

To add to her skills Loyce went back to college and has taken art design classes, reworking her class assignments in wool instead of the typical paper, paints and charcoal. Lately she has been adding a multi-media approach to her felt, learning to weld, making glass beads and incorporating found objects. She has taken felt making classes with local and international teachers learning a wide range of felting techniques and styles. She loves to make light weight laminated fabrics out of wool and silk as well as whimsical sculptures made with felting needles and densely packed wool.

Loyce’s pieces have taken many awards at Oregon’s Black Sheep Gathering and placed Best in Show 2000, Best in Class 2001 and 2003 at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.  She teaches nationally and owns the Chocolate Sheep in Forest Grove, OR.

            Darlene Hayes       Natural Dyer Extrordinaire, Owner of Hand Jive

Darlene Hayes is the owner and creative brain behind Hand Jive (www.handjiveknits.com), a small company specializing in naturally-dyed yarns.  This is her third career, after working as a research molecular biologist and an intellectual property attorney.  She started experimenting with natural dyes more than 30 years ago, particularly those that are local to Northern California, and has made them the focal point of her current business.  Sold under the brand name Nature's Paletteª, Darlene’s yarns can be found in shops throughout the US, Canada, and Europe and appear in such books as The Natural Knitter by Barbara Albright, The Yarn Lovers Guide to Hand Dyeing by Linda Labelle, Son of a Stitch and Bitch by Debbie Stoller, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi, and The Teddy Bears Suitcase by Amy O’Neill Houck (coming in 2008) and in a variety of magazines (including some really stunning cuffs designed by Nancy Bush for Piecework in 2006).  She continues to be amazed at the magic that comes out of the dye pots!

Sara Lamb      Spinner, Weaver, Fiber Artist

Sara is a longtime spinner and weaver, focusing most recently on knotted pile technique.  Her work has been published in SpinOff, Handwoven, Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot, and Weaver’s Magazines,  has received numerous awards, and has been included in juried exhibitions.  She lectures and gives workshops in the US,  Canada and England.   She maintains a working studio in a yurt in her Northern California backyard, with looms, spinning wheels, dyepots and beads.  Details at www.saralamb.com

         Judith Mackenzie McCuin       Spinner, Weaver, Teacher, Author

As textile person, I think I have lived a charmed life. As a child, I grew up on the edge of two worlds. From the world of European settlers in a new landscape, I learned the beauty and discipline of good craft. From the world of the First Nations, I learned that behind any object fashioned by hand shimmered a spirit world.  

If you asked me “Why spin?” -- or weave or knit or dye or stitch,-- I’d probably say “Why not?”  And, while this might very well seem like a slick and somewhat slippery answer, I think it is probably the truest one. I spin for many reasons. I spin because it allows me to make objects that are a true reflection and extension of what I see in this world. I spin because it demystifies technology and by doing that allows me to choose what I want a machine to do or not do for me in this world. I spin because its good for me – it makes a quiet and peaceful place in this world that connects me to the past and opens a path towards the future.  But mostly I spin for the beauty of it, and for the pleasure of the process. Truly, I can’t help but think the question should be “ Why in this world not spin?” 

Judith MacKenzie McCuin has worked in textiles for many years.  She lives in Montana on the edge of the Rockies where she produces a line of yarns and dyes. She has been published in a variety of textile magazines. As a teacher, she has taught throughout North America and her works hang in both public and private collections.

Myra Wood     Knitter, Crocheter, Freeformer!                    

I'm wild about all things freeform! I am  just about to send a book off to be printed on Freeform Crochet Lace which will be available Spring 2008 and I am already working on pieces for the next book on Freeform Knitted Lace.
    I’m all about embellishing. My motto is “More is More”! Never having been one to leave well enough alone, I’ll find ways to embellish anything not nailed down. I’ve been crazy over some freeform beaded jewelry I’m working currently that’s keeping me up nights. Who can sleep with this kind of creative flow?!
    I teach regularly in the L.A area and several times a year at various conferences and retreats. I’m absolutely passionate about teaching. I often think I get more out of the classes than the students! The exchange of ideas and creativity is what I live for. I always say my childhood dream came true: I get to make stuff and play with my friends all day. What more could a girl ask for?

Myra Wood is an internationally known fiber & bead artist and designer. She teaches a wide range of classes in beading, embroidery, crochet and knitting, specializing in all things freeform. She’s appeared on several episodes of Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads for the DIY & HGTV networks along with publishing a number of jewelry and wearable art patterns in a wide range of books and magazines. Myra has been crocheting, sewing and crafting since she was young and enjoys any opportunity to inspire others creatively. She is also the moderator for the International Freeform Guild with over 1500 members worldwide and coordinator for their annual national shows. Galleries of her work can be seen at www.myrawood.com